1. Unit 6 – Chapter 17
The Physical Geography of North Africa, Southwest Asia, and Central Asia

2. I. Section I
The Land

3. A. Seas & Peninsulas Seas Peninsulas
Red Sea, Dead Sea, Caspian Sea, Aral Sea
Peninsulas
Arabian, Sinai, Anatolia

4. Bodies of Water Black Sea Caspian Sea Dardanelles Strait
Atlantic Ocean
Tigris River
Jordan River
Mediterranean Sea
Euphrates River
Suez Canal
Strait of Hormuz
Persian Gulf
Nile River
Gulf of Oman
Red Sea
Arabian Sea
Gulf of Aden
Indian Ocean

5. B. Rivers Major Rivers Nile – longest river in the world
The majority of the Egyptian people live along this!
Tigris & Euphrates (Iraq)
Land in between is called Mesopotamia (“land between two rivers”)

6. Streambeds
Wadis – usually dry streambeds until heavy rain

7. Dead Sea: Lowest Point on Earth
2,300’ below sea level
Highest Salt Content (33%)

8. C. Plains, Plateaus, & Mountains
Coastal Plains
Fertile plains along the Mediterranean Sea

9. Highlands Atlas Mountains Caucasus Mountains Hindu Kush
Others – Hejas, Asir, Pontic, Taurus, Zagros

10. Mountains & Plateaus Caucasus Mts. Anatolian Plateau Elburz Mts.
Taurus Mts.
Iranian Plateau
Atlas Mts.
Zagros Mts.
Hejaz Mts.

11. Mountain Ranges in Mid-East
Elburz Mts., Iran
Zagros Mts., Iran
Lebanese Mts.
Taurus Mts., Turkey

12. Deserts Kums - deserts Negev Desert Libyan Desert Sinai Desert
Arabian Desert
Sahara Desert
Rub al-Khali

13. Fresh Groundwater Sources

14. Swarms of Desert Locusts!
Israel Hit By Worst Locust Plague Since the 1950s!
Locusts Swarm the Pyramids Complex at Giza!

15. D. Earthquakes African, Arabian, & Eurasian Plates come together here
Because of this, earthquakes (often very serious ones) happen here frequently

16. E. Natural Resources Oil & Natural Gas 70% of the world’s oil reserves
33% of the world’s natural gas
Oil Reserves

17. Leading U. S. Oil Suppliers
The U. S. imports 30% of its oil needs from the Middle East.

18. Minerals
Sulfate
Phosphate – Morocco (3rd in world)

19. II. Section II Climate & Vegetation
Vegetation Map

20. Middle East: Climate Regions

21. A. Water: A Precious Resource
Look at map on pg. 428
Desert Climate (#1)
Sahara – the largest desert in the world
3.5 million sq. mi.
Steppe Climate (#2)
Pastoralism – the raising & grazing of livestock

22. B. Climate Variations Exports & Tourists Rainfall
Export – citrus fruits, olives, & grapes
Tourism – people enjoy the warm climates
Rainfall
Coastal Areas & Highlands receive the most
Dead Sea Tourists